Outside Aster City, there was a short stretch of grassland right before melding into the dense forests that surrounded the city.
In fact, there was only one part of the city which was connected to the forests, which was the great Boan forest. All this made Aster City seem like an oasis in a desert of trees that extended in all directions till the eyes could see.
It was currently nighttime as the few nocturnal animals roamed freely. Their hyperadapted gifts gave them an extreme advantage in the dark which most of them relied on extensively.
The Slaner, the big cat that Icarth had fought a couple of weeks ago was one of the nighttime predators, using its stealth to hunt.
A huge bat-like creature roamed the treetops, searching for prey to pounce on.
Multiple snakes slithered around, slowly but surely encircling their victims, waiting for the most opportune moment.
The forests were plenty alive, even in the darkness, it thrived and buzzed with activity.
Amongst all this was a particular figure that strolled through the forest without a care in the world.
Strolling so brazenly, it was certain that one or two predators would try to kill them. But every predator that tried to attack ended up dead with a bluish key protruding from their bodies.
Humming softly, the figure reached their destination a large cave. Running their hand through their hair, they gazed upon a pack of wolves huddled inside the cave.
Brandishing a blue key, the figure laughed and muttered, "What should I do this time?"
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Icarth sat blankly at the seat overlooking the lake.
His face hurt from the strong slap that Shui gave him moments prior.
'Should I have dodged?' Icarth thought rubbing his cheek. Honestly speaking, Icarth could've dodged, but some part of him stayed still causing him to get him directly.
'Although I do deserve this.' Icarth finished with a sigh.
After that insane woman left, a deep silence settled between Shui and Icarth. Neither one wanted to speak after their fight.
Icarth cleared his throat and opened his mouth to say something.
"Thank you," Shui murmured softly, cutting off Icarth.
"But I don't forgive you for ignoring me so much," Shui continued, glaring at Icarth from the corner of her eye.
"I'm sorry," Icarth blurted out. "I didn't mean to ignore you for all this time. I just - ....didn't know what to do."
Shui stayed silent, letting Icarth continue.
"I didn't mean those things that you're just a random friend to me. I was saying them for a reason." Icarth paused to see if Shui was following what he was saying.
Seeing the expectation in Shui's eyes, Icarth felt a sense of relief wash over him as he continued, "It's cause of your aura or something. I can sort of see how much danger someone is emitting at a certain point. At least that's what I think."
Icarth tried to explain his ability to Shui who listened attentively.
"So you had a huge red cloud around you and it was growing bigger the moment that you tried to calm down."
"So your idea was to make me mad?" Shui asked, her voice rising at the end.
"Yea. I mean the cloud was looking like it was on the verge of something. When you got angry it reduced and shrank," Icarth nodded trying to ignore Shui's accusing glare.
"How big is the cloud right now?" Shui asked, still glaring at Icarth.
Icarth's eyes glowed as his world bleached and the red cloud entered his vision.
"It's like a thin fog right now," Icarth reported.
Shui nodded, feeling relieved that whatever the cloud was had reduced.
"So what do you think the cloud is?" Shui asked Icarth.
"I'm not totally sure, it is related to danger though," Icarth mused.
"Well, I should get going then," Shui told Icarth.
"Sure," Icarth nodded absentmindedly.
"Oh and one thing," Shui started while standing up.
"Whats-" Icarth was cut off by a slap to his face.
"OW!" Icarth shouted in pain as the stinging sensation flared up causing his eyes to water.
"That's for ignoring me," Shui huffed.
"I forgive you now," Shui smiled and stormed off, her words and actions completely contradicting each other.
'What even was that?' Icarth thought confused.
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A good amount of time passed. Icarth had left the lake and walked back to his dorm. In reality, he just let his feet take him wherever they took him. His mind was on more important things. Who was that woman? Why could she emit that red fog? What actually is the red fog?
'Too many questions,' Icarth thought frustrated at his inability to get answers at the moment. The major factor inhibiting him right now was that he wasn't strong enough at the moment.
Even after his mysterious powerup, Icarth knew that he was still no match for the cloaked figure or the forest guardian, Acacia.
Icarth was already feeling frustrated at his powerlessness for a while now, but after the recent events, the feeling just grew and wrapped around him clutching at his hands and legs.
Unknowingly, Icarth slowed himself down as if something was truly weighing down on him.
But that feeling disappeared when he reached his room. Opening the door, Icarth glimpsed Sefir sleeping soundly and just collapsed on his own bed. In mere moments Icarth fell asleep still wearing his uniform.
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Icarth was deep asleep. The tiredness had caught up to him and completely knocked him out the moment he hit the bed.
This time he was truly too asleep to notice the bed tilting. Icarth woke up with a start when he hit the ground face-first.
Groaning, he opened his bleary eyes to see a shocked Sefir still holding the tilted bed.
"You finally fell...." Sefir whispered with amazement.
"Oww, what time is it?" Icarth questioned while rubbing his eyes.
"5:05. Get ready," Sefir answered, putting the bed down.
"...." Icarth stared at Sefir in shock.
"5 pm?" Icarth asked tentatively.
"Am."
"What the fuck!" Icarth shouted from the ground.
Sefir rolled his eyes.
"Oh please, you won't die for waking up so early."
"You monster...." Icarth accused flicking Sefir a rude gesture with his hands.
"Stop being dramatic and get ready. Let's spar," Sefir stated cooly, putting on a tracksuit.
"Let's do it later...." Icarth tried to reason with his roommate.
"You owe me for messing up the room and making me deal with the warden all on my own," Sefir stated giving no room for argument.
"....fine," Icarth agreed begrudgingly and followed Sefir to the training ground.
Deserted as always, Sefir started doing stretches to warm up.
"Not going to warm up?" Sefir asked Icarth who was just lying on the ground dead.
"Nah," Icarth called out.
"Suit yourself," Sefir shrugged his shoulders.
"Ready?" Sefir asked after his warm-up was done.
"Yea yea," Icarth yawned and stood up.
Each took a stance waiting for the other to move.
And as if they had an agreement, both sped towards each other at the same time.